New Hamster Help

[Maz]

She really is gorgeous It all sounds to be going well. Bar climbing the first night is usual in any cage, actually, whatever the size. It's the hamster exploring every crevice of their new abode. Once they've done that they tend not to bother doing it again. Although in a smaller cage, she might do it more as a sign she wants out It's great you have the playpen to let her out in.

Sprays - You could get a couple of these small bundles (Rosewood picknfly) from Amazon, which are inexpensive - it varies what's in them. Or Hamsters We Love have nice ones and you can choose how much of each one you want.

Rosewood PicknFly

SHOP | Hamsters We Love

www.hamsterswelove.co.uk

A great place to get cork logs is the Cork Shed. Theirs are always very clean and you can choose the size and shape of the individual one you want. Their delivery is usually very fast as well! Sometimes the next day.

Cork caves and hides are perfect for decoration, hiding and nesting

Cork Caves / Hides. Caves and hides are perfect for decoration, hiding and nesting. The Cork Shed UK. Full Worldwide Delivery on all cork products.

www.thecorkshed.co.uk

 

[Socks' Mum]

I was about to say she is gorgeous, but Hank has beaten me to it, but she is lovely. Definitely a great find, and a sociable girl too, you are lucky ❤

 

[Mboyd117]

We have entered a new stage now. Fluffy is just hoarding and nesting most of the time with little desire to socialise, much to the disappointment of the family but it is a good sign she is settling into her little cage well. Hopefully we see more of her in the next week or so.

New cage arrived today but I won't rush her into it.

 

[Socks' Mum]

She got caught up in a bit of hammy DIY I'm sure she will be out again soon ❤

 

[Maz]

It’s still early days - it can take them a week or two to have everything as they want and feel at home and then they get more confident and she may be out and about more. Fluffy sounds adorable . Do you have a nightcam? That can be fun to watch what they get up to at night by watching the footage next day.

 

[Mboyd117]

I dont have a nightcam yet but we might grab one. She came out this evening a couple of times into the playpen and had a good few runs around in the wheel and a general scurry about. Shes eating out of our hands now but still jumps out of your hand if you lift her so im scooping her in a jug for now.

I think she's probably ready for a new cage soon as well, she seems a little bored already with the little cage. Some climbing and biting happening. But generally only when im in the room. I think she maybe associates me with getting out of the cage

 

[Maz]

I’m sure she associates you with getting out of the cage . And it’s an attention thing when she sees you it sounds like.

She is going to love her new home. But this current time is giving her time to bond with you as well

 

[Socks' Mum]

Great that she's coming out to socialise and turning out to be a real little personality. Super that she is interacting and friendly ❤

 

[Mboyd117]

Later in the week we might try bath bonding once there has been more playing done. My daughter is 6 and loves her cousins Syrian (Bob) and is very good with him so she is dying for that relationship with Fluffy. She has been wearing kitchen paper up her pyjama top in the evening before shredding and depositing it in the cage

 

[Mboyd117]

So we have most of the cage set up. In the small cage we still have a few things which we will transfer across.

Is this too sparse?? The Cork log is great and we have two hideouts.

Then the platform and rosewood chew thing will come in as well. There is about 140L of bedding i have ordered more as well.

 

[Mboyd117]

To confirm there is 140L of bedding in there and I have ordered another 70L

 

[Maz]

I would add a platform at the end opposite the wheel It's a really large cage and things do tend to look sparse, even with large items in. A platform not only helps fill up the space, but it helps it feel less "open" and Hamsters seem to love sitting under a plattform for a wash or climbing up it to sit in a hide. It's also a useful place to put heavier ceramic items.

With a platform at that end, the other items would be less spread out and it wouldn't look as sparse Then when you add sprays it helps fill up some gaps as well (again it helps it feel less open as they do need to build up confidence - too much open space and their prey instincts kick in). There does need to be some room for them to easily run in the cage as well.

The difficulty is getting platforms quickly. Happy Henry Homes make great platforms and you choose the leg length you want with it - so you can get it the right height to sit above the substrate (but not too high above the substrate). But delivery can be quite slow - usually at least two weeks. There are other "cottage industries" who also make them but I don't think they are that quick either. Getzoo sells some but shipping from Germany varies - it can be within 2 days or it can be a week or more (I think it depends on customs). There isn't really anything "off the shelf" in a shop that you can get without adapting it to get the height right.

If there is anyone in the family with diy skills, it's quite easy to make - just a piece of wood with legs stuck on! Although the difficulty with cages like that is that the base curves, so legs are in the way and the platform doesn't go right to the edge.

Which is why I like the Happy Henry Homes Cloud platforms - the legs are inset and the platform can go right up to the edge. I've tended to use two of those next to each other, across one end. In the cage you have, I had one with 30cm legs and one about 2" taller - so one stepped up to the other. Then the cork log next to them (or pushed partly under one of them) gives a ramp up to them and a tunnel underneath them.

Hamster Cloud Platform 300mm x 200mm with Solid Birch Legs | Happy Henry’s Homes

Hamster Cloud Platform with Solid Birch Legs Description:Hamster Platform with 4 supporting legs. Legs come complete with brass threaded inserts for stainless steel screw fixings to fix the platform and legs to one another.

www.happyhenryshomes.co.uk

Alternatively you could screw corner shelves to the bars. Some people use these

Trixie wood shelves

 

[Mboyd117]

I would add a platform at the end opposite the wheel It's a really large cage and things do tend to look sparse, even with large items in. A platform not only helps fill up the space, but it helps it feel less "open" and Hamsters seem to love sitting under a plattform for a wash or climbing up it to sit in a hide. It's also a useful place to put heavier ceramic items.

With a platform at that end, the other items would be less spread out and it wouldn't look as sparse Then when you add sprays it helps fill up some gaps as well (again it helps it feel less open as they do need to build up confidence - too much open space and their prey instincts kick in). There does need to be some room for them to easily run in the cage as well.

The difficulty is getting platforms quickly. Happy Henry Homes make great platforms and you choose the leg length you want with it - so you can get it the right height to sit above the substrate (but not too high above the substrate). But delivery can be quite slow - usually at least two weeks. There are other "cottage industries" who also make them but I don't think they are that quick either. Getzoo sells some but shipping from Germany varies - it can be within 2 days or it can be a week or more (I think it depends on customs). There isn't really anything "off the shelf" in a shop that you can get without adapting it to get the height right.

If there is anyone in the family with diy skills, it's quite easy to make - just a piece of wood with legs stuck on! Although the difficulty with cages like that is that the base curves, so legs are in the way and the platform doesn't go right to the edge.

Which is why I like the Happy Henry Homes Cloud platforms - the legs are inset and the platform can go right up to the edge. I've tended to use two of those next to each other, across one end. In the cage you have, I had one with 30cm legs and one about 2" taller - so one stepped up to the other. Then the cork log next to them (or pushed partly under one of them) gives a ramp up to them and a tunnel underneath them.

Hamster Cloud Platform 300mm x 200mm with Solid Birch Legs | Happy Henry’s Homes

Hamster Cloud Platform with Solid Birch Legs Description:Hamster Platform with 4 supporting legs. Legs come complete with brass threaded inserts for stainless steel screw fixings to fix the platform and legs to one another.

www.happyhenryshomes.co.uk

Alternatively you could screw corner shelves to the bars. Some people use these

Trixie wood shelves

Ill get some platforms as you mentioned. Sprays are ordered and I have a sand bath coming too

What do you think about moving her tonight? Cage size for context. Shes just woken up


What do you think about moving her in tonight?

 

[Maz]

Personally I'd wait until everything is finished in the new cage as changing things afterwards disrupts them settling in. However - is she doing ok in the smaller one? Assume you know it's a good idea to freeze sprays and hamster food before using as well?

It does look great, but I think with all the open space she might just stay underground the whole time, so it would be better if everything was finished first. I guess you could move things forward and leave a space for platforms and then add them afterwards - then it wouldn't mean moving things around - it would just be adding something. It would help if sprays were in first though

I also think it helps to have a transition day. ie the day before moving over, let her have a play in the new cage and explore (it means her scent will be on things). And then even if she seems to love it, pop her back in her old one overnight and move the next day. That seems to shorten the settling in time quite a bit.

 

[Mboyd117]

Okay ill keep it as her playpen for now. Shes in exploring the new cage now do ill do a quick clean of the small one.

Shes doing OK but just ok. I feel like she's quite bored and lots of climbing last night. It was hard to leave her and go to bed! But that being said its not terrible she isnt running in circles all night from what I can see. But she does love her wheel...

She is cleaning herself quite a lot. Could be stress or maybe im paranoid?

Ill try and get more platforms and see how long it will be. Maybe move her tomorrow

 

[Mboyd117]

Also, checked out those cloud platforms. 25 and 30cm or 30 and 38cm? Cant decide. Bedding looks to be about 20-25cm

 

[Maz]

They do clean themselves a lot generally And partly to scent mark things as well. Putting their scent on their paws to scent mark a new environment. It's nice she's enjoying it as a playpen. She'll be quite familiar with it when she moves in then.

25cm and 30cm would probably do it because even though the 25cm one might be only just above the bedding, they can still dig under it and it's still a platform and a step up to the other one I made some little shallow steps up to the first platform and between the first and second ones. They were completely ignored and the hamster just hopped up.

Maybe just go with what feels right then

 

[Socks' Mum]

I would add a platform at the end opposite the wheel It's a really large cage and things do tend to look sparse, even with large items in. A platform not only helps fill up the space, but it helps it feel less "open" and Hamsters seem to love sitting under a plattform for a wash or climbing up it to sit in a hide. It's also a useful place to put heavier ceramic items.

With a platform at that end, the other items would be less spread out and it wouldn't look as sparse Then when you add sprays it helps fill up some gaps as well (again it helps it feel less open as they do need to build up confidence - too much open space and their prey instincts kick in). There does need to be some room for them to easily run in the cage as well.

The difficulty is getting platforms quickly. Happy Henry Homes make great platforms and you choose the leg length you want with it - so you can get it the right height to sit above the substrate (but not too high above the substrate). But delivery can be quite slow - usually at least two weeks. There are other "cottage industries" who also make them but I don't think they are that quick either. Getzoo sells some but shipping from Germany varies - it can be within 2 days or it can be a week or more (I think it depends on customs). There isn't really anything "off the shelf" in a shop that you can get without adapting it to get the height right.

If there is anyone in the family with diy skills, it's quite easy to make - just a piece of wood with legs stuck on! Although the difficulty with cages like that is that the base curves, so legs are in the way and the platform doesn't go right to the edge.

Which is why I like the Happy Henry Homes Cloud platforms - the legs are inset and the platform can go right up to the edge. I've tended to use two of those next to each other, across one end. In the cage you have, I had one with 30cm legs and one about 2" taller - so one stepped up to the other. Then the cork log next to them (or pushed partly under one of them) gives a ramp up to them and a tunnel underneath them.

Hamster Cloud Platform 300mm x 200mm with Solid Birch Legs | Happy Henry’s Homes

Hamster Cloud Platform with Solid Birch Legs Description:Hamster Platform with 4 supporting legs. Legs come complete with brass threaded inserts for stainless steel screw fixings to fix the platform and legs to one another.

www.happyhenryshomes.co.uk

Alternatively you could screw corner shelves to the bars. Some people use these

Trixie wood shelves

I binned a Trixie corner platform once as there was a gap between the edge of the platform and the cage bars just big enough to risk trapping Socks if he tried to squeeze down the side. The bolts on one side stuck out and I didn't like that. I think it needs to be trimmed in the corner as well, which I didn't want to do. It probably fits some cages, but I thought it wasn't suitable for the Savic 120.

 

[Mboyd117]

Just a final update. Fluffy went into her new cage this morning for some play time and fell asleep in her hideout so it has since become her forever home unfortunately I will have to disturb her a bit to add the final touches to her cage but she has taken to it very well. Ill start properly taming her this weekend once she is well settled in. Thanks for the help all.

 

[Maz]

That sounds good . She must like it if she fell asleep in there. She might need a few days to adjust before any further taming though - sometimes they get a culture shock when they realise they’re not going back to the old home again and can be a bit skitty for a few days. In fact after moving everything over, I actually take the old cage out of the room and have a bit of a clean up in the area where the cage is. If they can still smell it it know it’s there, it can set back settling into the new one.

But if she has her old bedding and nesting and hosts in there she should settle well